Two jewellery store owners in the Greater Toronto Area are reconsidering their business operations following a surge in criminal activity that has specifically targeted jewellery stores over the past year. Hamza Ali Nawaz, along with his father, operates Nawaz Jewellers, located in a plaza off Markham Road. He expressed deep concern for their livelihood after their store was burglarized in a daring crime.
On June 30 at approximately 1 a.m., a group of masked individuals broke into the store adjacent to Nawaz's, smashing through the shared cinderblock wall. Nawaz recounted, “They came inside, took the safe, and ran away.” The safe contained the store's entire in-store stock, estimated to be worth nearly $2 million.
Similarly, Naseer Din, who owns a jewellery store in Etobicoke, experienced a break-in just two weeks earlier. Din recounted, “They also broke through a wall, entered my business, and took my vault.” Both men described the criminals as professional gang members who are aware of what they are doing.
These incidents are part of a troubling trend, as reports indicate that jewellery store robberies have increased throughout the GTA. In Toronto alone, there have been eight store break-ins since January of this year. Meanwhile, York Region has experienced fewer break-ins, but reports have indicated seven jewellery store robberies during the same timeframe.
Hamza expressed frustration over the lack of progress in his case, stating, “There is no progress. I call them, and they say you are in a queue, so it will take time.” He emphasized that if law enforcement had acted sooner, it might have been possible to recover some stolen items. In a statement, York Regional Police affirmed that a detective is actively investigating the case; however, due to it being an open investigation, they did not provide current details on its status.
Authorities have not disclosed if the crimes in Toronto and York Region are connected. A spokesperson from York Regional Police mentioned that incidents that appear related or serial in nature usually get assigned to their Integrated Property Crime Task Force. This specialized unit investigates such patterns believed to involve the same suspects, establishing a formal project to coordinate the investigation. The spokesperson also noted that these investigations can become complex and may extend across multiple jurisdictions, which can lengthen the timeline for resolution.
In light of these alarming events, jewellery store owners are taking proactive measures to enhance their security. Nawaz's store includes several security features: customers must be buzzed in through two iron gates, and all display cases are secured behind bars. Despite these efforts, Nawaz lamented that their security did not deter the criminals, stating, “We need help because these types of crimes keep happening.”
Both Nawaz and Din find themselves in a precarious position, contemplating the future of their businesses as they face significant financial losses. Naseer shared, “It is very terrible nowadays to do business of this kind; I am close to retiring. This was my whole livelihood, and now it’s gone.”
In an attempt to recover their stolen items and help apprehend the suspects, both men have decided to speak out publicly and share surveillance footage. Nawaz emphasized their dire circumstances, saying, “Because right now we have nothing. We are like in debt right now.”
The police are urging anyone with information regarding these burglaries to come forward and contact Crime Stoppers, as well as Toronto or York Regional Police.
